CHAPTER 1, 



PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY- 



Extent of sdrvet. — Of the coast mountains. — Ebroneocs notions of. — Parallel ranges. — Nomber of and oeogbapbical 

 POSITION. — Northern extension. — Depression across the line of strike at san francisoo.— >Ionte diablo range. — Effect 

 OF the topography on commercial destiny. — Absence of navigable rivers. — Flow of the waters. — Outline of topography 



OF THE state in THE SOCTH. — ClIMATE INDEPENDENT OF 0TH«;R LANDS. — EfFECT OF MOONTAINS. — NO DISTINCT WINTER SEASON. — 



Rainy season. — Fall of rain. — Drought. — Earthquake movements, frequency of. — Elevation of coast range. — Geological 

 PERIOD OF. — Igneous rocks — Different points op elevation. — Depression of fissures of the strata. — Resemblance of the 

 orography to mediterranean Europe. — Pal/Eozoic strata not discovered. — Of the miocene period on the pacific. — Up- 

 heaval of the sierra NEVADA. — PROBABLE EFFECT UPON THE LEVEL OF THE GREAT BASIN. — ABSENCE OF POLAR DRIFT. — OP THE 

 QUATERNARY PERIOD. — Of THE COAST LINE OF CALIFORNIA. 



The geological examinations in southern California occupied from November 22, 1854, to 

 April 5, 1855. The explorations were made in five counties within that period, viz : Santa Cruz, 

 Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles. In the counties of San Diego, 

 San Bernardino, and Tulare, only a few observations were noted. The five above named 

 counties occupy almost the whole shore-line of southern California, and embrace within their 

 limits the numerous series of parallel ranges of hills, which are erroneously located as one upon 

 the maps of the present time, and which are confusedly included under the common name of 

 the Coast Range. 



It would be well if this name were obliterated altogether from the maps and geographies of 

 the State. There is no single range of hills which in its whole extent can be termed the Coast 

 Range in these counties. These ranges have, as they travel south, a deviation more easterly 

 than the shore-line, and pass into the interior, leaving a fresh chain to occupy a littoral position 

 for a few miles further south. The western commencement of these ranges form the headland 

 along shore, and give that peculiar indentation of the coast and crescentic shape to the bays 

 which is so peculiar to this State, Thus, from Point Finos, in Monterey, to Point Concepcion, 

 in Santa Barbara county, as many as four ranges may be counted, each one being the Coast 

 Range at its outset, and gliding, in turn, behind a range which, further south, outflanks it, 

 itself to be displaced, in turn, by its western neighbor. Viewed from the shore, as in the 

 vessels sailing coastwise, these appear one uniform continuous chain, and from this, no doubt, 

 has arisen the erroneous term, which, if longer retained, must, from its very comprehensiveness, 

 become a source of error and confusion. 



Throughout the majority of the counties as many as three different ranges may be traced, 

 running in a direction somewhat parallel to each other, and converging into a focal point in 

 latitude 34°. At this point of junction an immense upheaval of primitive rock occupies the 

 region, rendering it an uninhabitable and almost impassable district. 



In the vicinity and south of the Bay of San Francisco, the parallelism of mountain ranges, 

 already alluded to, is remarkable. This district, which embraces Contra Costa, Alameda, and 

 San Francisco counties, San Jaoquin, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and the northern part of 



